Locals living in Melbourne’s south-east will have access to more opportunities to get the skills they need to get a job thanks to $12 Million for Holmesglen Institute from the Andrews Government.

“The Andrews Government will always support TAFE, that’s why we’ve created the Stronger TAFE Fund.” Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney said.

“Transforming the training and TAFE sector after four years of cuts is no easy feat. That’s why we’re investing record amounts in TAFE’s, including Holmesglen, to make sure they’re up to the task.”

Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney visited Holmesglen’s Chadstone Campus today to announce the funding from the Stronger TAFE Fund, part of Skills First, which will allow TAFE’s to focus on what they do best and train students.

Funding will make sure Holmesglen has the resources needed to address industry skill gaps, deliver new innovative training and will help grow enrolments at the institute.

Through Skills First, the State Government is overhauling Victoria’s training and TAFE system, guaranteeing funding to secure the future of TAFE and making sure Victorians have the right skills for the jobs of today and tomorrow.

“I’m proud to be a part of a government that’s making our TAFE’s stronger than ever. Locals in Oakleigh and surrounding areas deserve access to the best training possible and this extra funding will make sure that happens.” Member for Oakleigh Steve Dimopoulos said.

Skills First builds on the Government’s investment in TAFE since 2014 which has included new buildings, reopening closed campuses, rolling out the latest cutting edge equipment and restoring quality to the system.

During her visit to the campus, Ms. Tierney visited a number of initiatives funded by the Andrews Government including

Apprentice Support Centre, which in 2016 supported 180 apprentices at risk of not finishing their training because of personal or financial problems or issues at work.

Language, Literacy and Numeracy Learning Support Service, which assists students to develop key skills needed to successfully complete vocational qualifications and secure a job.

New ‘Spark Board’ which allows teams to collaborate in real time no matter where they are in the world. Holmesglen is the first organisation in Australia to own this ground-breaking technology, putting building surveyors at the cutting edge of their industry.

In the last two years, Holmesglen has received $11.5 Million from the TAFE Rescue Fund, $5.6 Million from the TAFE Back to Work Fund and $1 Million for Skills and Jobs Centres from the Andrews Government.

Last month, a new united TAFE Victoria brand was launched to help TAFE’s promote the hundreds of high-quality, industry-linked courses on offer at TAFE.

Victoria’s 12 TAFE’s and four dual-sector universities will remain individual institutions, but the new brand gives them a strong collective voice at the centre of the government-funded training system.